FLORIDA TODAY journalist participates in Little Black Book Drive
Every week I try to inform you in this column about our journalism and the contents of the Sunday newspaper.
Today I’m going to do something different: I’m going to talk about a topic that isn’t directly related to work.
But it’s worth passing on because it provides a glimpse into the dedication and passion of the journalists on our team who cover Brevard County.
Many of you know the name JD Gallop, our longtime criminal justice reporter. Jeff has been a journalist for 31 years, 28 of which have been with FLORIDA TODAY. I could go on and on about the stories he has covered and the awards he has won.
But that’s not what this is about. This isn’t about his work for us.
This is about the Little Black Book Drive, an initiative to provide young people on the Space Coast with new books about black historical figures, science and technology, books by black authors, and more.
The initiative began in 2022 when Jeff, his wife, former journalist Rolanda Hatcher-Gallop, and Lynda Hudson, a television and radio producer, began discussing how African Americans and other youth were struggling with reading, especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
That got them thinking about policies to promote literacy, and then “what we perceived to be the limited information about black history being taught in Florida’s public schools,” Jeff said. He remembers talking to some young people and finding that they didn’t know much about historical figures like Harriette Tubman or black writers like James Baldwin.
So they came up with an idea. As Jeff puts it, they “actually decided on a whim to maybe collect some books and possibly distribute them.”
Because of their role as journalists, they wanted the event to be “non-partisan, non-political and inclusive,” but they didn’t really know what to expect. They decided to focus the book drive on Juneteenth Day.
What happened next surprised even Jeff. Not only did the community respond with donations and support, the children were also enthusiastic about the idea.
“We’ve seen kids jumping and smiling. I even saw one kid scream and jump when he told his mom that there was a book on the table that he really wanted but didn’t get,” said Jeff. “And then to see them later walking around festivals with the books in their hands is something really special.”
They have collected books on topics ranging from sports to science, books about historical figures, books by black authors and comic books.
“Reporters are often criticized for writing about the bad things, but here is a group of journalists working to present solutions as well,” said Jeff. “We are all responsible for educating the next generation, whether as journalists, teachers or whatever. This is my small contribution.”
I asked Jeff what surprised him most about this venture.
“The fact that what we consider small gestures, like giving a child a book, are perceived by others as something big,” Jeff said.
This week, the Palm Bay City Council celebrated Juneteenth Day and recognized the work of the Little Black Book Drive.
In their statement, the drive was called “an inspiring initiative in the American spirit of emancipation, education and community, rooted in the meaning of the Juneteenth celebration. With its small army of volunteers, The Little Black Book Drive’s goal is to ignite and foster a love of reading and open a gateway to intellectual and financial freedom.”
Jeff emphasizes that he is just part of a larger team that includes many others, including Indian River-based journalist Nick Samuel, educator and basketball coach Corey Williams, local DJ CJ Harris, Ebony News reporter Sonya Mallard and community activist Addisyn Mayer.
An important partner is the Essence of Knowledge Urban Book Store.
“Journalists definitely understand the power of the written word,” Jeff said. “Letters form words, words form ideas, and ideas change minds. So, yes, the group I hang out with is constantly talking about ideas, things that impact our community. This is where we saw a need and this is where we, as Space and Treasure Coast journalists, decided to respond to it.”
The group is always looking for additional support to distribute even more books. One central point is the Essence of Knowledge Urban Bookstore in Cocoa. You can also contact Lynda Hudson at 1-954-410-1791.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the personal work our journalists do to support our community. Efforts like this always make me proud to work with this team.
Contact Editor in Chief Mara Bellaby at [email protected].
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